National Injury Prevention Day: Shining a Light on a Safer Future

Every year, injuries claim hundreds of thousands of lives and leave millions more facing long-term recovery. Yet, so many of these tragedies are preventable. On National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD), communities across the country come together to raise awareness, share solutions, and take action to prevent injuries before they happen.

This year, the American Trauma Society, Pennsylvania Division (ATSPA) proudly joins national partners, trauma centers, hospitals, and injury prevention advocates to recognize National Injury Prevention Day on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

Injury prevention isn’t just about avoiding tragedies, it’s about building safer environments, informed communities, and stronger families. Injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 44 in the United States, affecting every age, background, and community.

By focusing on prevention, we can reduce the devastating impacts of:

• Motor vehicle crashes

• Falls among older adults

• Firearm injuries

• Poisonings and overdoses

• Unintentional childhood injuries

• Burns and fires

Each statistic represents a story, a loved one, a friend, or a community member whose life can be changed through education, advocacy, and action.

National Injury Prevention Day serves as a reminder that small, proactive steps can save lives:

• Always wear seat belts and helmets.

• Secure firearms safely, locked, unloaded, and stored separately from ammunition.

• Install grab bars and improve lighting to prevent falls at home.

• Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly.

• Safely store medications and cleaning products out of children’s reach.

When individuals, families, and communities work together, these simple actions can lead to meaningful, measurable change.

Each year, landmarks and hospitals across the nation illuminate in green to honor National Injury Prevention Day, a symbol of hope and awareness. ATSPA encourages communities, local governments, and organizations throughout Pennsylvania to “shine a green light” on November 18 to show support for injury prevention efforts statewide.

Share your participation on social media using the hashtag #NationalInjuryPreventionDay and tag @AmTraumaPA to help spread the message.

---

Join Us at the Pennsylvania State Capitol

To mark National Injury Prevention Day 2025, ATSPA will host a National Injury Prevention Day Assembly on Tuesday, November 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Main Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

---

This event is open to the public and will bring together experts, advocates, and survivors to highlight the importance of prevention and collaboration across all areas of injury prevention, including bleeding control, fall prevention, poison prevention, motor vehicle safety, and more.

A press conference will take place at 12:30 p.m., featuring speakers who are leading the way in saving lives through education, policy, and innovation.

Join us as we recognize the power of prevention and celebrate the dedicated professionals and advocates who make our communities safer every day.

Together, we can shine a light on injury prevention, and build a safer, stronger Pennsylvania.